Karera Series STC-33

Gorgeous clean & classic crunch sound. Distortion brings out the loud buzzing noise inherent in these pickups, but overall a great bright sound through my Crate amp. It doesn't have enough sustain to sound good through my Digitech multi-pedal though.

The action is a bit rough but I've lowered the bridge a bit to compensate and it's great. Same feel as a regular strat (wallet may feel uncomfortably hefty if you're used to Fenders though :D ). I've made a few noticable chips in the finish, but it had quite a few when I got it from a pawn shop so it's hard to guage. Also has problems with selector switch cutting out sometimes like many cheap strats do.

This guitar simply won't die. I've changed nothing but the strings since i got this many years ago and it hasn't lost it's sound, look, or feel. The finish isn't as durable as I'd like it to be, but it hasn't bothered me in the least. Everything's pretty solid and I would definitely trust this in gigs.

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Been playing ~10 years and this is my favorite guitar. I prefer this over my Les Paul even (except metal/hard rock stuff of course). No regrets here. My favorite feature on this particular guitar (though I have no idea if someone else did it, because it's from a pawn shop) is the jade/gold paint job. I honestly have never found such a beautiful paint job on a guitar. Conclusively, I'd only trade this for a natural wood Lite Ash Stratocaster i've just recently played (which sounds exactly like mine, but is much more sturdy feeling... and expensive :/ )

In it's original form, this was a basic Indonesian Strat copy. The original neck was fair. The body and bridge were actually pretty good. The original pickups and electronics were okay, but the middle pickup wasn't reverse-wound to cancel hum in positions 2 and 4 (as most new Fenders and better copies are). They sounded pretty good, but hummed a lot. As others have pointed out, the original finish was easy to chip.

Notice how I keep saying "original" and "were"? That's because I bought this guitar for parts. I've replaced the neck, repainted the body, and installed new pickups and wiring. Now it's a great guitar (almost as good as my Fender).

I put the tuners on my son's guitar. He's still using them a year or so later, so they're not too bad.

The stock pickups were pretty good for what they were. They sounded bright and fairly detailed. I think this was also due to the light wood of the body. With the 5-position switch, they offered variations on all the usual Strat sounds. It was especially good for Blues and Surf sounds. The output was a little less than Fender pickups, but not bad (not nearly as low as a Tiesco, for example). However, there was no hum cancellation. This is a major issue for me. I play in places where single coils hum a lot. I replaced the whole pickguard assembly with a Stewart McDonald pickguard with 3 alnico pickups (the middle is reverse-wound). Now it sounds great.

SO the 5 is for how it originally was. Now it's at least an 8.

When I bought it, the action was a little high. But this may have been how the previous owner set it. The neck was straight. The rosewood fretboard was nice and smooth and the frets were well dressed, but a little worn.

I would up replacing the neck with a maple neck I found in the back room of a guitar shop. The fit wasn't perfect (the original was wider at the heel) but the scale was the same (I did have to adjust the saddles a little).

The bridge is actually very nice. It's a traditional vibrato type, with 3 springs. The tension is a little heavier than my Fender, but I like it. I feel like I have more control when bending notes. It stays in tune, except when dive-bombing (which I almost never do).

The finish was chintzy. It chipped easily. I've since repainted it (handpainted acrylic scene w/ 5 coats of varnish).

The hardware was the best part of the guitar. I'm still using the original bridge and strap buttons. No need to replace them.

It it's original state, I used it as a backup on stage (just in case I broke a string on my Fender). But I didn't trust it. Now I'm thinking of using it as my main guitar.

I don't know if they even have customer support. Besides, I bought it as a fix-up project. Why call Indonesia when I can fix it myself?

Great "parts" guitar. Average quality for a cheap knock-off. But I'm happy with what I've done with it. I got the whole guitar for less than I'd have to pay for just a neck or body. The body is light and comfortable. And even in it's original state, it sounded good (in the right conditions-when it didn't hum).

i dont care what anyone of you guys say i think this is one of the best guitars made. its juzz like a strat for more than have the price!!!!!

it sounds pretty good. well its sounds better than what i have had before and i bought a new 25 watt yamaha amp for it and i got a nice jumper and a wa pedel

well the finish aint too nice because i got it at a pawn shop called uncle bills in williamson and its a little chipped but hey who cares what it looks like the only thing that matters is how good it performes

i would definatlly take this guitar live because it is the only one that i can make sound nice. and i know the hardware will last i believe i will do very few rpairs. i can depend on this for anything. and i would also use it in a concert i have already used at my high school prom and everyone loved it!

i have a 10 day warranty that has already expired along time ago but if i need repairs ill do them my self

i'd say if u have little amount of cash and need a great guitar then definatlly get one of these

uh the features.. an easily chipped body, crap pich ups whose pole pieces like to fall inside and a fender strat style body

this guitar has a surprisingly clean sound. forget about distorting the sound. your not gonna get very far. theres this annoying buzz whenever you turn the overdrive on

the action is very high. it sux.the bridge likes to rise up when it is tuned to regular standard eadgbe.that defeats the purpose of the temolo

i would not use it live. the finish is damned fragile. it always chips and my lead pick up stopped working

uh i dunno

C R A P

Stratocaster copy made in Indonisa. 3 singlecoil pickups, 1 volume and 2 tone controls, 5-way selector switch. Looks just like a strat exccpet for the headstock. 21 med jumbo frets on a rosewood
fretboard. Vintage whammy bridge. Sapphire Blue with white pickguard. Headstock and neck are satin finished - would have looked better glossy. It feels nice, not heavy, and I like the set-up.

I play blues and rock mostly with occasional surf tunes. I run it through a ZOOM 1010 processor for mainly reverb and chorus. I like the sound - the 5-way switch is handy of course for switching back and forth from a rythmn sound to lead. I have been successful in getting everything from muted jazz tones to bright surf and rockabilly sounds out of it. Have not noticed much buzz when I run it clean - seems generally low noise.

Action is effortless. But then again I switched over from acoustic when I bought this and it seemed like a dream. I have not adjusted the action from the factory and have been playing this one for nearly two years. Probably needs a little tweak, but it has not been such that I felt like fooling with it. It does have the individual string adjustment bridge. The only hardware issue has been the cord jack nut wanting to loosen itself on a regular basis. Finish described earlier. Action on the whammy bar feels a little stiff and requires a practiced touch to get a subtle sound. It is fun to play.

So far it is playing well. Overall it seems to be solid enough, especially for the price. The body may be a little easy to chip, I got one and could figure out how...might not be an issue.

Haven't dealt with the company. If it breaks will fix it myself. No warranty that I remember.

I have been playing for 24 years. Have a number of acoustics, 2 favorites are an Ovation A/E and a Wasburn flatop. I knew what I was getting when i bought this and am not disappointed. For the price ($99) I would buy it again - it was a great deal. I like the sound, the look, the action, and how light it is. What I dislike most is the finish. What I like most is how it plays - the action is good. Not a bad second electric or for a person just going electric or a complete beginner.

I think it is like a 1996 or 1997, I don't know. It's made in Indonesia. It has 21 Medium Jumbo frets. It also has 3 single coil pick-ups, 5 Way selector switch, and 2 Tone's and 1 Volume. No idea what woods but i really don't care. It came with Amp, starp, cable, and pick.

I play hard and heavy. This guitar ain't that bad. I have played better, but 4 a beginer guitar its OK. I am using the Karera Amp that was purchased with it. There is some feedback but not that bad. The variety isn't all that much but when it coincides with the amp, it's not 2 shabby.

The set-up isn't horrible. Pickups were OK. Top and Bridge were allright. The hardware is all OK except 4 the cable jack. It was shitty.

I beat the piss out of this guitar and it is still going strong. The hardware has a little life left. Finish is ASS. It really sucks. Strap buttons - Fine. Its pretty dependable. I never do a show without a backup.

Customer Support? Yea Right

I have been playnig for 5-6 years. It was my 1st and I am glad it was. I own a Fender Jag-Stang, STC-33, Gibson Flying V, and an Epiphone Flamecat. No questions. I probably would buy it again if it was lost. I made it much better than how i got it. The pickgaurd and pickups are now chrome along with the head. The accesories are now vintage. It looks much better.I wish it had a better jack and maybe a humbucker.

This Hot mama was made in Indonesia, what year...who knows? It has 22 Blazing Frets. Standard Strat features. Three Single coil Pick-ups. 5 way selector. 1 volume and 2 Tone selectors. Passive Electronics. Nice Cherry Sunburst that will make u cry. Fat Neck. bad feel to it. Too bad this thing sucks.

Not a bad Sound to think of it. Its Freaking great if u have the ears of a shrew. Dont even think of using any Effects with this. Oh, if u do use it....get a good amp. I play this thing on my Gorilla Amp aint it just aint sounding good. Has a nice 24/7 fuzz sound to it. I figure the pick-ups were made by some villager. u'll know when u play it.

Everything was nicely setup......i suppose. Not Much else.

I suppose this thing was meant to last but.......who knows. Everything is solid on this guitar......except the Body. I recieve the damn thing in perfect condition...3 weeks later i got friggin Craters and Dents and Chips everywhere! But other than that this sucker plays fine. Stupid Body finish. U could pick up the guitar and admire it and it will develop some kinda scratch.

I dont think this company has a customer service much less a phone. I think u gotta telegram Min Heung in Indonesia for any kinda help. Good Luck. i wont need it.

I have had this thing since October and i have been playing as long. This is a Great First Guitar from eBay. 65 bucks plus 25 S/H. so 90 bucks for a start-up guitar is no biggie, so dont expect much. But now i upgraded to a ESP LTD EX-250 and it blows this cheap whore like guitar away. But hey...Its what u get for 65 bucks...so dont complain....but i can now...with the ESP around. Get this thing just for a 1st timer.

This guitars a 96 stratocaster copy made in Indonisa.Its got the 3 singlecoil pickups and 1 volume 2 tone controls with a 5-way selector switch.It looks Just like a strat.Its got the closeback tuners like the cheaper strats.It has a 21fret neck and med jumbo frets on a rosewood fretboard.I dont know what kind of wood the neck is made of but its fast and the frets are finished good. It also has the vintage whammy bridge.It came with a strap,cord,and small Karera amp.

It sounds like a strat it even hums like a strat but thats fixable with shelding.Im playing it through the small amp that came with it and it sounds ok but my friend played it through his marshall stack and it sounded great.He plays Hendrix stuff and sayed electric guitars soud better through good amps.I am just learning to play and it has a lot of differnt sounds i like.I really like the wammy bar.

The set-up was ok but my friend put some slinky strings on it so i could bend the strings better an it be easy on my fingers.The color was lipstick red and i think it looks great.There was no flawes but the selector nob fell of and i lost it.

I have been dragging it back and forth to my lesson for a year and its only got a small ding on the bottom because i droped it.Its always played good and sounded good the only thing ive changed is strings.Im just using it to learn on till i get better than ill get a U.S strat.

It was a cheap guitar so there was no warranty.I think its a student model.If something happens my friend will fix it.

Ive been learning for the last year and was happy to find a guitar that came with everything.If it got stolen Id try to get a Fender strat cause i like strats.but id buy one of these agin but they make a cool one with gold hardware for $30 more.When i bought it i tryed a few other guitars but this was the best buy since i didnt have much cash.I wish I had a Marshal stack and a wa pedal.If you want a good student guitar like a strat this is it.

I'm not sure where or when this guitar was made. It is a 21 fret strat style gutar with a s/s/s pickup configuration. I really don't know what the body or the neck is made of, but it the cheapest shit I've ever seen. It is very soft woodlike material. It got dented and nicked very quickly. The neck was fat and weak. It got bent by light gauge strings. I replaced the neck with a maple one order from renegade music.

There is only one thing about the pickups, they are very high output. Other than that they suck. I change the bridge to a DiMarzio Super Distortion just so I could use the damn thing.

This guitar has no action, it is not fit, and the finish sucks.

If you played live with this guitar it would probably fall apart during your first song. The tuning key are like cheap tin and were replaced with a set of Fender Vintage style keys. The paint chips off whenever you bump the guitar against something. I always have to jam stuff in the screw holes to keep the strap buttons on. This guitar wasn't good enough to BE a backup until I customized it.

I'm not sure if this guitar even has customer support. No one has ever heard of it.

I've been playing a couple years and now I know I got seriously ripped off with this guitar. It is only good for starting camp fires. If it was stolen I would feel sorry for the dumbass that took it. This guitar is plain and simply a piece of junk. (The ratings for all the categories are for the original guitar without the modifications)